Ignition harness means



g- 29, 1967 R. c. BRENTRUP 3,339,010

IGNIT ION HARNES S MEANS Filed Sept. 28, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l ZIE ZIE

INVENTOR. Babe 6. Brent/up His Aiforney Aug. 29, 1967 R. c. BRENTRUP IGNITION .HARNESS MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1965 INVENTOR. Robert C. Brenfrup His A homey g- 29, 1957 R. c. BRENTRUP 3,339,010

IGNITION HARNESS MEANS Filed Sept. 28, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 4 24 24 F lg 21E INVENTOR. Robert C. Bren/rap arr-w His Afforney United States Patent 3,339,010 IGNITION HARNESS MEANS Robert C. Brentrup, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 490,921 1 Claim. (Cl. 174-72) This invention relates to vehicle ignition harness means, and more particularly, to premolded integral distributortimer cap, graduated wiring and spark plug boot configuration.

Lowness of vehicle body contouring results in need for reduction of space required for ignition installation. Presently, distributor caps are quite bulky in that separable wiring junctures protrude upwardly and individual interference suppressor cables extend in bowed paths to spark plug installations. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to minimize space requirements for ignition harness means installation by provision of integrally molded cap and graduated wiring portions terminated for direct spark plug attachment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a premolded graduated wiring harness portion having an integral timer cap portion that provides support supplemented only by plug connections rather than requiring individual cable support brackets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an elongated grouping of premolded insulated ignition wiring having a distributor cap fitting portion integrally therewith in a central location from which wiring projects integrally to spark plug connections.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a unitary combination distributor cap and multi-wire ignition harness means having connectors and conductors bonded into an integral unit. Principal support for a cable strap portion of the unit is connection thereof to a timer cap and connections at spark plugs directly as plural secondary supports. The entire configuration is replaceable as a unitary subassembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flattened printed-circuit-type ignition harness means having timer cap portion contacts in a rounded configuration and spark plug connectors in graduated length extending therefrom.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of vehicle ignition harness means having features in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view tion harness means of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a transverse portion of the vehicle ignition means of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectioned fragmentary view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view 6--6 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 77 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view of printed circuitry arrangement for vehicle ignition harness means having features in accordance with the present invention.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown an end view of a vehicle motor or engine means generally indicated by numeral 10 including a cast metal block 11. This block 11 has machined cylinder passages therein in a well known manner.

of the vehicle ignitak'en along line 3,339,010 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 A substantially V-shaped configuration of the block is adapted to receive opposite cylinder head portions 12. It is to be understood that the vehicle motor or engine 10 is thus provided with suitable intake and exhaust valving operably fitted to the block 11. Suitable valve cover portions 14 as well as manifold means 15 are thus provided. A centrally located carburetor means 16 is provided on top of the V-shaped block 11 in a location intermediate the valve cover portions. Previously ignition connection to spark plug means mounted on one side of the block or cylinder head covers would come in individual connections by use of suppressor cable means disclosed by a Patent 2,714,623Wolcott issued Aug. 12, 1955. Such suppressor cable generally is fitted with separate spark plug boots disclosed by Patent 2,665,673Woofter issued Jan. 12, 1954. Both of these patents belong to the assignee of the present invention. Due to lower silhouette and styling of vehicle engine compartment hood and fender lines a need exists for more compact ignition harness means generally indicated by numeral 20 in the drawings. The engine block also carries a distributor coil means 17 having a cap portion 18 as well as a timer means 19 to which a plurality of interconnections are established by the ignition harness means 20.

As shown in views of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the ignition harness means 20 includes a relatively flat ribbon-like transverse body portion 21. This ribbon-like body portion 21 is formed as a laminate of an upper U-shaped cross-sectional configuration complemented by a lower mating dovetail member 21M as represented in FIGURE 5. A plurality of conductors 22 are sandwiched in a printed-circuit-type configuration between the mating portions .21 and 21M. A central cap-like cylindrical extension 21C extends integrally downwardly from the ignition harness means 20. This cylindrical portion 21C has a hollow interior 21H in which terminal means 21T project downwardly as represented in FIGURE 4. An insulating boot 21B is provided in a bell-like configuration surrounding the terminal means 21T having a metal pin 21P projecting into conductor means 22. It is to be understood that one of such pins and terminal means is provided for each of the eight conductor means 28 represented. However, for purposes of illustration and clarity to avoid overlapping structure in the view of FIG- URE 4, only one terminal and boot means is shown in this view. The terminal means 21T can have a barrel-like cylindrical configuration that mates directly on prongs or upwardly extending projections along the top of the timer means 19 fitted with the cylindrical cap portion 21 in sealing engagement with an upper periphery of the timer 19. It is to be understood that conductors 22 and insulating material therewith is made in accordance with disclosure of Patent 2,714,623-Wolcott issued Aug. 12, 1955 and belonging to the assignee of the present invention as noted earlier. However, other suppression cable means are also usable with the physical arrangement of structure in accordance with the present invention. The patents noted are cited only for background information. The transverse body portion 21 of the harness means has a substantially C-shaped configuration as represented in FIGURE 1 with complementary opposite sides or ends 21E having passages or open slots 24 in predetermined locations as represented in views of FIGURES 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings. As represented in views of FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawings, a distributor coil wire portion 22W is cut from the ignition harness means and leaves a slot or opening 25 on one side of the transverse portion 21. An enlarged cap portion 22C and a termination 22T are fitted in sealing engagement with a central female contact carried by the cap 18 of the distributor coil assembly 17. Additional graduated lengths of predetermined conductor wiring portions terminate in integral enlarged boot-type endings 22E of insulating material having suitable contact or terminal means 22T therein to fit in electrical engagement with prong or contact ends of spark plug means 26 shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The enlarged insulation ends 2213 of the ignition harness means extend transversely from graduated steps of progressively less width of insulating material with conductor means therein as best seen in FIGURE 2. The endings 22E have a substantially squared or hexagonal configuration as represented in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic illustration of printed-circuittype ignition harness means generally indicated by numeral 20 due to ribbon-like flat insulation and progressive distribution of conductors 22 thereof. The coil wire 22W is shown extending to a central contact 30. Similarly a conductor portion 22 extends between a distributor contact 31D which physically corresponds to terminal means 21T for example in FIGURE 4. This distributor contact 31D has a corresponding opposite end designated as 318 for spark plug attachment. Similarly there are contact ends 32D and 32$ for distributor and spark plug engagement respectively. Further contacts 33D33S, 34D-34S, 35D-35S, 36D-36S, 37D37S and 38D-38S are provided as corresponding connections for distributor terminals and spark plug engagement respectively.

It is to be noted that in the structures represented by the views of FIGURES 1-7 inclusive in the drawings, the primary or principal support of the ignition wiring harness means 20 is provided centrally by the cap portion 21C as to the transverse ribbon-like portion 21. Only secondary or supplemental support is provided by connections of the insulated conductors and end terminations thereof directly as to the spark plug means. No separate brackets or individual cable hanger clamps are provided or necessary. Though it is necessary to replace an entire ignition harness means in the event a single cable or conductor is damaged, it is noted that usually insulation failure occurs such that replacement of all cables is desirable. Quick replacement of such grouping of cables as a unitary subassembly is made possible by the ignition harness means 20 having features in accordance with the present invention. Even if a failure or defect is encountered in conductive carbon material of the non-metallic conductor means 22 per se it is advantageous to replace the entire ignition harness means 20 as compared with possible further failures in the event separate suppressor cable means in accordance with Patent 2,714,623Wo1 cott and the like were installed on a vehicle.

It is noted that the transverse portion 21 of ribbon-like configuration has sufficient rigidity and support due to attachment to the timer cap and to the plugs so as to make separate cable support brackets unnecessary. The ribbon-like portions are collectively bendable like a fiat strap in a direction substantially transverse to longitudinal axis thereof though much more rigid than a single cable particularly laterally. The slots 24 assure lateral stability as well as cooling between the insulated con ductor portions. The insulation material of the ignition harness means is molded in complementary pieces as indicated. Once the conductors and connectors are positioned the molded parts such as 21 and 21M are bonded into a unitary, complete assembly.

It is to be noted that in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the cap portion 21C is shown as fitting over a distributor head or conventional distributor cap. However, it is to be noted that the flattened harness configuration is preferably incorporated with the cap portion 21C actually being the distributor head thereby eliminating the previous distributor cap per se and permitting direct predetermined engagement of distributor contacts for better and more economical use of materials. Also, it is to be noted that separable spark plug cap portions are usable so that integral endings 22E shown in the drawings are for purposes of illustration. Thus in the event excessive heat and/ or aging of elastomeric material as the endings requires replacement thereof the separable boots or caps are provided in locations immediately adjacent to the spark plug means 26. In any event the ignition harness means 20 in accordance with the present iinvention provides a low-profile as Well as compact and orderly distribution of cable interconnections from the distributor means to spark plug means.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

An ignition harness for supporting and insulating the high potential conductors which transmit high electrical potential energy from the timer to the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine comprising, a central cap portion of insulating material containing and locating one end of each of said conductors and shaped to snugly fit over the cap of a timer on an associated internal combustion engine, an integral transverse portion of laminated insulating material comprised of an upper member of U-shaped cross section complemented by a lower mating dovetail member extending laterally from each of opposite sides of said central portion and carrying selected ones of said conductors and an integral extension of insulating material of decreasing width in successive steps extending substantially normal to each of said transverse portions and carrying the respective selected ones of said conductors, each of said conductors terminating at a respective one of said successive steps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,464,757 8/1923 Fielding 200-19 2,984,697 5/1961 Bontecue 174-685 3,074,043 l/1963 Stearns 174 -72 3,104,658 9/1963 Olsen 174 72 X 3,174,576 3/1965 Woofter 174-72 X 3,239,916 3/1966 Love 174-117.60X

FOREIGN PATENTS 555,228 9/1943 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Page, Victor: The Ford Model A Car, Henley Co., N.Y., 1930, pp. 66, 308 and 309 relied on.

LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner. E. GOLDBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

